Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I was taught that "The Canon" was a list of books that had long ago been deemed must reads. From the onset of its inception there has been criticism of what was and wasn't on the list, and there still is discontent. Since my days in the classroom have finished, I read for pleasure, and yet "The Canon" haunts me. I wonder if I've missed anything important and in my search for the list, I came across a website that notes the Western Canon by Harold Bloom The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages"].

Now, because it's Banned Books Week, I looked at the list not to see what I should read, but to see if anyone had challeneged any of these books. No surprise to find that they had. Here is a very small sampling of what I found:

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I'm not entirely sure what makes a book "a classic", but I know that I enjoy reading many books that have been given this title. They often put me in a different place or time, and that is what a good read should do.

When I first heard about Banned Books Week, I looked at the list, and was shocked to see "To Kill a Mockingbird " was challeneged that year for profanity and racial slurs. Well, you shouldn't be surprised that I picked up a fresh copy of that book, and read it again. This is where I started to pick a book from the yearly challenged list to read during this week.

Here are the top ten Classics* - where 1-9 have been challenged/banned:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker6. Ulysses by James Joyce7. Beloved by Toni Morrison8. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding9. 1984 by George Orwell10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The entire list of Classics* can be found here on the ALA and the details for some of their challenges can be found here.

Interesting.

*=Radcliffe Publishing Course, now at Columbia, compiled a list of the top 100 novels from the 20th century.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The Online University has a load of information to help you know and understand The First Amendment - they use layperson terms.*

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Easy, the ALA has published a few pie charts that depict important information about book challenges in easy to grasp details. Reason, Institution, and Initiator are laid out in bright beautiful colors.

Number #1 reason books are challenged is for being "sexually explicit", followed by "language" and "unsuited for age". Putting those three together, it makes sense that "parents" are the largest group who initiate challenges. Again, it won't surprise anyone that, putting the reason for challenges given and who is doing it the most, that the "school library" and "public library" hold the dubious honor of being the institutions with the most challenges.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Visit the American Library Association to read about the Who, What, and Why of Banned/Challenged Books. After that, check your personal shelves, head to a library, or purchase an ebook/book of one that intrigues you, then realize how lucky you are to be able to make your own choices. A new site to me, the Illinois Library Association, has a great brochure up [free pdf download] of the 2008-2009 challenged/banned books. After going through it and noting the various reasons for their being on the list, I chose to read Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War", removed from a Louisiana High School for cursing.

Did you know Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet On The Western Front" was banned by Hitler and burned, banned for Austrian soldiers, Czech military libraries, in Italy for ani-war propoganda, and during this time in the US, what did they do? Banned it in Massachusettes for obscenity and in Chicago seized by US Customs. All this happened from 1929 to 1933.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I'm getting closer to delving into purchasing a dedicated eReader! As an author/reader who really enjoys the ebook format, it may shock many people to realize I've never owned a eReader. Nope. I firsted started reading ebooks on a laptop, then went to the Pocket PC, and am currently on the iTouch.

The reason I haven't bought a dedicated eReader is because I haven't found a device that will do everything I want, which isn't all that much. What exactly am I looking for?

1. I want it to be capable of carrying copious amounts of ebooks. Who knows what I'll be in the mood for when I get a chance to read.

2. I want it to be wifi so I can shop wherever I want. This is where business and pleasure mix for me. Being someone who receives royalty checks, I prefer to make my purchases through the publisher first. After that, it's either All Romance eBooks] or Barnes & Noble [the latter now has both my ebooks and paperbacks sitting side-by-side.

3. I want to be able to hold it easily in one hand and turn pages without it being a big production.

4. I want to be able to read an ebook in the format of my choice - PDF. Having been reading ebooks for almost ten years, I have a huge library in this format, and like having the opportunity to read them all.

See, I'm not asking for much. So, who have I had my eyes on that will do all this?

Since I first stumbled upon the iLiad [which, as a Classic Greek major, immediately drew my attention], I've been moving that much closer to taking the last step to owning a device purely for reading ebooks, and now I'm there. It has everything I want and much more.

Thank you, Kevin Hamilton, CEO IREX, for sticking with it and giving us readers [and authors who truly enjoy the ebook format] a great eReader!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Due to a glitch with the hotel, we were able to reopen registration till Sept, 20th! And I know you guys have been thinking about coming to the Authors After Dark Paranormal weekend, and now is your chance to come and hangout with me for this first years event. So many fantastic authors have signed up to come, give away goodies and sign on saturday that you are going to miss out on something amazing if you don't attend.

Registration is 175$ and includes 4 meals, 2 parties(a candy shoppe PJ party and a Masquerade ball), a cocktail hour, a slew of reader focused events, Author lead mini events and tons of free books and goodies! And we are even doing a charity raffle to benefit the ACN and a local no kill shelter, Pets Alive! we have over 25$ gift baskets too!

Your room is 99$ a night, double occupancy, and can be booked through the info on the AAD website on the Registration page.